Solving the Weight of the Nation
On May 8, 2012, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a consensus report funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention: Solving the Weight of the Nation. Two-thirds of adults and one-third of children are overweight or obese.
If left unchecked, obesity’s effects on health, healthcare costs, and productivity as a nation could become catastrophic. The staggering human toll of obesity-related chronic disease and disability, and an annual cost of $190.2 billion for treating obesity-related illness, underscore the urgent need to strengthen prevention efforts in the United States. The IOM evaluated prior obesity prevention strategies and identified five recommendations to meet the following goals:
- Integrate physical activity every day in every way
- Market what matters for a healthy life
- Make healthy foods and beverages available everywhere
- Activate employers and health care professionals
- Strengthen schools as the heart of health
